Freemasons
South-West Victoria
Bushfire Mental Health Support Program

In response to the March 2018 bushfires in the Terang, Cobden, and Camperdown areas, Freemasons Victoria launched a Bushfire Appeal. Men in regional and remote areas are 1.3 to 2.6 times more likely to die by suicide than those in urban areas. Local evidence shows that men aged between 35-64, who have had contact with welfare, community and/or housing services in the past 12 months and who are dealing with multiple stressful life events, are most likely to die by suicide. Sadly, farmer and farming related jobs represent the largest single group of those who died by suicide within the south-west region between 2009 – 2014.

Freemasons Victoria have brought together 4 service providers, with common interest but differing service focus, to address an identified gap in the delivery of mental health support to communities in distress. The aim is to reduce the potential for self-harm and suicide in rural communities. The program will improve the skills of these ‘Front Line Interactionists’ (vets, milk tanker drivers, bank workers etc.) to be better able to: “Recognise, Respond, and Refer”, thereby knowing how and when to link those at risk with those who can help.

The program partners and local Freemasons met in Warrnambool on Thursday 7 June 2018 to launch the Freemasons South-West Victoria Bushfire Mental Health Support Program.